Topics

1

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / Pulley Setup and Selection Mach 3

« on: December 06, 2007, 11:07:17 AM »

I posted the following in the zone but have not had a response to date.  Hopeing to get some help here!!!  Anyone?


I can't seem to find the info in the users manual on how to set up the pulley selection criteria. The manual does not match the current screen I'm using. It speaks of ratios and such and the current screen has only pulley number, min speed and max speed for each of 6 pulley choices. Is that all that it requires??? I'm assuming that you set the gear (low or high and 1, 2 or 3 on my lathemaster ZAY), set the VFD for a given freq, say 40 hz) and measure the spindle speed for each setting. That would be the maximum speed and of course, 0 would be the minimum).
Here is the situation.
I just installed a hitachi vfd and leeson motor. The motor is only a 2 hp (mistake) and it stalls on low rpm torque requirements (1200 rpm (22 hz)?). I've tried unsuccessfully to adjust the L200 vfd for higher torque, but can't seem to wrap my head around the users manual!!!
So, it seems like the correct path is to use my lathemaster head gearing to run higher rpm and gear down for torque. I plan on cutting a hard steel for gun parts.
Also, the manual speaks of changing the pulley selection on the dro. I can't seem to find an input for "pulley" on the spindle speed dro!!! I hope this is a matter of mach control technology outrunning the documentation. Can you select the pulley using a software command.
Forgive the questions, but I'm still trying to learn mach and basic cnc machining.
Bill

2

General Mach Discussion / Mach has lost it's mind

« on: July 23, 2006, 02:52:10 PM »

Hey Guys;
Help!!  Mach3 is doing some crazy things.  Started yesterday when I loaded a conversational routine to surface a blank.  I used a .75 mill and had the start surface set for -.012.  I couldn't get it to preview and finally cancelled.  Lo and behold, the code was there.  However, I started getting error messages such macro error, multiple characters on a line and bunches more.  The crazy part, is the the machine crashed zhead crash without me touching anything or a program running.  It just starts moving the axis at random.  The Dro's are changing and the preview screen has what seems like random lines being drawn as toolpath!!!!
I relaoded mach several times but when using that surface wizard with the negative value, it's nuts.
Also, when trying to run a program, I keep getting a "Nothing to Feedhold" error and I can't clear it. 
I'm using a new compac desktop but the damn thing has me going nutz.
Also, I've noted that when I rescale, the dimensions in the toolpath dro are wrong, at least I think.
Both softward, mach and newfangle are purchased and legal.
Any help anyonw?
Bill

3

General Mach Discussion / Ref. All Home - Limit tripped Will not ref.

« on: June 13, 2006, 08:25:39 PM »

Hey Guys and Gals!
I'm almost there with the lathemaster milling machine conversion, but I need help again.  When I tell my milling machine to reference home all, my z axis rides to the top of the tower, trips the switch and reverses as it is suppose to.  Before the home command satisfies itself and proceeds to the next axis, I get a limit switch active for the z and the program disarms the system.  I have the soft limits set at 0 and -7 for now and have the soft limits button not active.  I've set the home/limit ref value to .1 and -.1 but nothing works.  It seems to work sometimes and not on most others.  I hope I have described this so someone can understand and help!  Wonderful site for us beginners.
billyjack
 

4

General Mach Discussion / Limits HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

« on: June 11, 2006, 07:15:29 AM »

 
I just finished my mill conversion and installed Mach 3.  Limit switches are wired and working OK.
Here are my questions.  How do I set the limits for the table???  When I zero reference, the z goes to the top of the tower, as it should and the table moves to the far right and to the rear (toward the tower). 
My DRO has values other than zero so how do I reset those?
If I load a job (roadrunner), the job view is off the red square which indicates the table.  If I move the table so that the cross hairs are in the table are and reference, all appears well until I try to run the job.  Then one axis hits a limit switch and stops everything.  I have rescaled to .5 to try and get everything in the table area but the table still hits the limits.
Is there a tutorial or directions on how to do the initial setup???
All help is appreciated. 
I know I'm close and it's frustrating.  I've been working on this project for months but still need to learn a lot.
Thaks for the time.
billyjack